"It does not scare the Hamas leaders or the Palestinian people," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Thursday night. "We warn Netanyahu [Prime Minister Binyamin] of the dreadful consequences of such a foolish act."

Hamas said in the statement that it would continue to reject any initiative for a ceasefire as long as its conditions are not met.

Abu Zuhri added that Israel may think that its operation is limited, but it is mistaken.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu released a statement on Thursday night after 10:00 saying that the security cabinet approved the ground operation in Gaza after Israel agreed to the Egyptian cease-fire proposal on Tuesday, which Hamas rejected.